Dive Brief:
- By addressing challenges with staff training, siloed workflows and resistance to change, organizations can improve the overall effectiveness of asset management efforts, while also creating a future-ready workforce, according to Brightly’s 2025 U.S. State of Asset and Facilities Management report released Tuesday.
- The report found that 72% of survey respondents harness asset management data to predict potential failures of physical assets and 84% for budgeting and forecasting. Brightly and Hanover Research conducted the survey of 380 business officials.
- The effectiveness of data-based decision-making could be compromised if users aren’t fully equipped to collect and interpret the data accurately, Brightly said.
Dive Insight:
Overall, data drives nearly every aspect of the modern asset management approach, from maintenance strategies to long-term capital planning, with 63% of respondents saying they have a three-year plan for capital planning, Brightly says. Thirty-six percent said their plan extends to five years, while less than 1% report having a one-year plan, per the report.
In recent years, asset management software and systems have expanded to offer more capabilities that can help organizations optimize operations, schedule maintenance, manage inventories, track compliance and plan strategies for workforce sustainability, Brightly notes.
Over 90% of respondents report relying on data to optimize operations and determine when assets need to be replaced. Some 84% of respondents list capital investment planning as a use for asset data. Sustainability initiatives also remain a priority: Over 50% of organizations report using asset data for reducing environmental impact, including 94% that have implemented renewable energy projects. Over half of respondents say they use data to improve communications between departments.
Ninety-four percent of respondents say they use asset management software for maintenance scheduling and tracking work orders, with 82% using the technology to record maintenance histories, according to the report.
Survey respondents also say they see asset management systems as tools for broader strategic initiatives, with 81% using them to analyze the cost-effectiveness of their assets and 76% using them for strategic planning to ensure asset investments align with long-term goals, Brightly says.
This versatility extends to regulatory compliance, with 97% of organizations saying they use the software to meet industry standards and track compliance requirements, per the report. Over 95% of respondents listed “enhanced compliance” as a top benefit of their asset management systems.
Workforce retention and development remains “critical for organizations and the communities they serve,” the report says. Against that backdrop, 79% of respondents said asset management systems help them develop workforce sustainability plans — a finding that Brightly notes emphasizes “the human element needed for true operational success.”
In addition, 97% said they have formalized plans aimed at workforce retention and development. However, 65% of respondents said a lack of sufficient training is their biggest challenge and 49% pointed to staff resistance to changing workflows and systems.
